Finding Rory

Chapter 6: It's a Small World

"Are you up for a little more celebrating, Mare?" Tristan asked as they walked out of the restaurant

"Depends on what you have in mind, Bible Boy.  I hardly think it prudent to give you carte blanche to decide how we celebrate," Rory teased.

"I just thought maybe we could go to a local club - have a few drinks and dance - before heading to my house."

"It's been forever since I've been to a club," Rory chuckled.

"Well, that could all change tonight."

"You know what?  Let's do it!  It will be fun," Rory consented.

Ten minutes later, they pulled up to Beso Lounge and Martini Bar.  They stopped by the bar to get a round of drinks before moving to an open both, opting to sit next to each other so they could talk more easily.  They had barely settled in when Tristan spotted people he knew across the room.

"I just saw a couple of friends - mind if I invite them to join us?  I think you'll like them."

"Umm...sure," Rory replied uncertainly. 

Tristan quickly rose from the table and walked toward the group he'd spotted.  He was shocked when even before he reached them, Rory came flying across the room towards them and into the arms of his long-time friend.

"Finny!  Oh my gosh, it's been forever!  I've missed you guys!" Rory cried as Finn picked her up and spun her around the room.

"I've missed you too, kitten!  It's been too long."

"And how's my favorite uptight lawyer?" Rory teased Colin as she moved to kiss him on the cheek.

"I'm good," Colin chuckled, embracing her in a hug.

"And Steph - we haven't seen each other in over ten years.  How are you?"

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe it's really you, Reporter Girl!  I'm great.  How are you?"

"I'm good.  I'm just so happy to see you all," Rory gushed.

"I feel like I've just entered the Twilight Zone," Tristan uttered in confusion.  "You guys know Mary?"

"You're his Mary?" Colin exclaimed, almost choking on his scotch when he heard the words come out of Tristan's mouth.

"Your Mary?" Rory asked Tristan in amusement.

"Hey, I'm the only one who gets to call you that, so yes, I think that qualifies you as my Mary," Tristan smirked.

"Wait, how do you guys know about Mary?" Rory asked suddenly.

"This one hasn't shut up about Mary since I met him at Harvard Law," Colin replied, pointing at Tristan.

Rory looked over at Tristan and began laughing.

"Tristan Dugrey, are you blushing?!"

"What are you guys doing here?" Tristan asked the group of friends, trying to change the subject.

"Steph and I decided to meet Finn for drinks since he's in town.  What are you guys doing?" Colin asked with a sly smile, thinking of his and Tristan's conversation earlier in the day.

"We're celebrating - Mare wrote the first three chapters of her book," Tristan said proudly, loosely draping his arm across her shoulders as he stood next to her.

"Well, mind if we join in the celebration?" Steph asked.

"Not at all - we have a table right over there," Rory answered, excited to see her old friends.

"So, how do you all know Mary?" Tristan asked once the group was seated at the table.

"We all went to Yale together.  We got to witness her transformation from quiet bookworm to girl who jumped off of a 7-story scaffolding with an umbrella and threw the going away party to end all going away parties," Finn replied.

"Mare!  I didn't know that you had it in you!" Tristan teased.

"That's nothing - ask her about the time she stole a yacht and we had a jailbird party for her," Finn added.

"Alright, that's enough about me!  How do you guys know Tristan?" Rory asked.

"We grew up together," Colin answered evasively, given Tristan a clear look that told him not to say anything else.  "And then Tristan and I also went to law school together, and we're the senior partners at my family law firm now."

"Tris, you didn't tell me that Colin was your partner!" Rory exclaimed.

"I didn't know you knew him," Tristan chuckled.

The group settled into an awkward silence for a moment before Colin leaned over and whispered something in Steph's ear.  She nodded her head and turned toward Rory.

"Let's get out there and dance some while the guys all catch up?" Steph asked Rory.

"It's been so long since I've been dancing," Rory laughed.

"It's like riding a bike.  Come on, let's go!" Steph encouraged her. 

Rory nodded her consent and followed Steph out on the dance floor, leaving the guys at the table alone.  As soon as they were out of earshot, Colin broke the silence.

"I had no idea that Rory was your Mary.  This complicates things," Colin hissed.

"What are you talking about, man?" Tristan asked, confusion evident in his voice.

"Do you have any idea who the man she's involved with is?" Colin asked.

"No, but I have a feeling I'm about to find out."

"It's Logan," Finn said seriously. 

"He's the one who proposed and walked away and who she has this weird arrangement with now?" Tristan asked in shock.

"He is," Colin confirmed.

"That's..." Tristan trailed off.

"Complicated," Finn finished.

"Only Rory Gilmore could tame the King of Chilton and the Playboy of Yale," Tristan uttered in disbelief.

"Yep, you and your cousin are both crazy about the same girl," Colin replied.

"What do I do?  Do I bow out because it's my cousin?  She deserves better than him," Tristan wondered out loud.

"She deserves someone who will make her their world.  Can you be that man?" Finn asked.  "I haven't liked the way that Logan treated her these last two years.  Reporter Girl is worth way more than he's giving her."

"Why has she allowed herself to be the other woman?" Tristan asked.

"You'd have to ask her that, but I suspect that she really thinks that's all she's worth, and she's been through so much lately that she's needed something familiar," Colin replied.

Tristan considered this information, lost in his own thoughts.  He finally had the woman of his dreams back in his life, although not in the capacity that he hoped for eventually, only to find out that she's involved with his cousin.  Could he be the man that she needs and deserves?  The answer was immediately clear.

"I would give her everything she deserves if she'd give me the chance.  I've known for a long time that if I ever got another shot with her I'd lay it all on the line and fight for her.  I think I've been in love with her since our junior year," Tristan said definitely.

"Then we'll help you, mate.  It's about time someone treated her right, and I think you're the man who could make her happy," Finn confirmed.

"You guys would really be in my corner over Logan's?" Tristan asked.

"Absolutely.  It's not about Logan, it's about what she deserves.  Do me a favor, though.  Let her tell you that Logan is the other guy on her own terms," Colin replied.